Laboratory of Natalia Osna, MD, PhD

The research focus of my laboratory is the studies of hepatotropic viral infections (HBV, HCV, HIV):

• Pathogenesis
• Exacerbation by alcohol
• Treatment and new drug testing/development
• Progression to end-stage liver disease.
• Liver-brain axis in the context of viral hepatitis and alcohol exposure

Ongoing Projects

Alcohol Promotes Hepatitis B Progression by Impairment of Innate Immunity in Liver Cells

This study is based on in vitro (cell culture) and animal (mouse) models of HBV infection potentiated by ethanol metabolites and is focused on the role of extracellular vesicles (exosomes) in the induction of interferon signaling in macrophages by HBV released from hepatocytes, which reduces HBV replication; this protection is broken under exposure to alcohol. The project (Project 2) is part of P50 Alcohol-Exposome grant; the collaborators of P50 grant are Drs. Carol Casey, Todd Wyatt, Kusum Kharbanda, Saraswathi Viswanathan.

New generation of long-acting nucleos(t)ides and immune stimulants for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

This study is done in collaboration with Drs. Benson Edagwa and Larisa Poluektova and is based on the development, testing, and characterization of the mechanisms of action for new long-acting nanoformulations for CHB treatment; in vitro and in vivo models.

Extracellular vesicles as the vehicle for promoting liver injury induced by HIV and alcohol.

This study is done in collaboration with Dr. Larisa Poluektova and is based on the mechanisms of hepatocyte cell death induction by alcohol and HIV, which leads to inflammation development and fibrosis activation; the identification of the targets for treatment and prevention of liver injury.